Northstar VFR

MARCH 23, 2025

As an aircraft enters the traffic pattern, it begins the process of getting configured to land on the runway. As the plane descends toward the runway on final approach, it may encounter various scenarios where a safe landing cannot be assured. This may be difficult if the weather is at or below minimums for the approach.

Pilot

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Whether it’s due to runway obstacles, unstable approaches, or weather changes, the aircraft go-around is a pilot’s best tool to avoid accidents and ensure a smooth, safe flight every time. This ensures the aircraft gains enough thrust to climb away from the runway safely.

Air Traffic Control

Flying Magazine

APRIL 25, 2024

Over the last 25 years, I have been asked to speak on various aviation weather topics at dozens of aviation events and gatherings. During these events, it’s quite common for a pilot to walk up and ask me about how I handled my most challenging flight as it relates to weather. I spent an hour looking at the weather before we departed.

Weather

Learn to Fly

APRIL 11, 2024

The saying “ in like a lion out like a lamb ” is most often used for March, but April can also be a crazy weather month. Once the decision is made to divert, the next decision is to return to the departure, continue to the alternate (which was determined as part of flight planning), or pick a new destination to get out of the weather.

Weather

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 8, 2025

My time studying the weather proved itself well spent as the flight to Portland was uneventful and a beautiful sight. Most seemed to be using more flaps than normal for takeoff, the idea being to get away from the ground as quickly as possible to minimize their time near the ground, where a wind shear could have serious consequences.

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

In aviation, staying ahead of the weather is a must. When weather conditions shift unexpectedly, that’s when a SPECI report comes in. A SPECI (or Special Report) offers a quick weather update between the routine METARs. Let’s explore how SPECIs are going to help you plan around unexpected weather twists.

Altimeter

Fear of Landing

MARCH 22, 2024

Airborne Wind Shear Detection During the 1980s and 1990s, NASA led a comprehensive research program to identify the characteristics of dangerous wind shear and validated technologies that can predict its severity while in flight. NASA’s groove process was adapted for use on military base runways, U.S.

Wind Shear

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

This year, a promising weather forecast featuring high freezing levels (expected to be 9,000+ feet) led to a decision to fly myself. The day before departure, satisfied that days of consistent weather forecasts reasonably assured a successful flight, I cancelled the rental car reservation. Runway and raindrops.

Approach

Air

MAY 21, 2025

Drawbacks: For takeoff, a tailwind significantly increases the required runway length and results in a shallower climb angle. Effects: It will try to push your aeroplane sideways off the runway centreline. Youll need the wind velocity (speed, Vw) and the angular difference () between your runway/track and the wind direction.

Crosswind

Chess In the Air

JULY 4, 2022

I have tried to wait out a storm only to watch a bigger and badder one to move in and the overall weather situation getting worse. We should also observe the ground for other markers such as the disturbed surface of lakes, wind rushing through crop fields, blowing smoke, etc. We need to watch out for all markers of high surface winds.

Wind Shear

Pilot Institute

MAY 1, 2024

The heading contains the city, state, airport, runway, and approach name. The weather can change, and approach equipment can fail. Are there runway closures? ATIS broadcasts usually include active runways, available approaches, important NOTAMs, and the weather. Get the destination weather as soon as possible.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings.

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings.

Wind Shear

Aerotime

JULY 26, 2024

At approximately 17:47 local time, the B-1B supersonic bomber, tail number 85-0085, crash-landed outside Runway 13 at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The aircraft touched down about 100 feet (30 meters) short of the runway, causing the rear radome to strike the ground and the main landing gear to hit the approach lighting system.

Wind Shear

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Weather experts classify storms as single-cell, multi-cell, squall line, or supercell. Thunderstorms create turbulence, wind shear, and icing risks for aircraft. Pilots should use weather forecasts and SIGMETs for safe flight planning. Key weather features include: Multiple updrafts and downdrafts. Tornadoes.

Wind Shear

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

These include a runway collision, porpoising, bouncing, or possible overrun. ATC can also ask for a go-around if the landing runway is unsafe or for spacing reasons. An approach is stabilized when: The aircraft is on the correct flight path, i.e., on runway centerline and glideslope. Airspeed is not less than 1.3Vso +10/-0.

Wind Shear

One Mile at a Time

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

Ive heard of aborted landings due to weather conditions, but this is the first time I have encountered an aborted landing due to another aircraft. As Will mentions, sometimes go arounds happen due to weather or other flying conditions. We went around and landed without incident approximately 10 minutes later.

Airplanes

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

I was listening intently to the ASOS for wind or gusts, letting it repeat 5 or 6 times with the exact same report: 9 kts straight down the runway; no gusts. That was the runway we would use to land. It’s worth noting that Shmulik had a close call in the past: a jet pulled onto the runway in front of him with no radio call.

Pilot

Ask Captain Lim

APRIL 12, 2024

One critical scenario is during low visibility operations, particularly when a plane on auto-land, approaching a decision height close to the runway. During final approach at Orly Airport, the crew received a wind-shear warning, prompting them to go around and discontinue with the landing.

Wind Shear